Combined camper lift and coupling



1965 1.. F. SCHATZL. ETAL 3,164,275

COMBINED CAMPER LIFT AND COUPLING Filed July 18, 1963 2 Sheets-Sheet 1INVENTORS. LEOPOLD F SCHATZL HARRY R. R/GGS AGENT 1965 F. SCHATZL; ETAL3,164,275

COMBINED CAMPER LIFT AND COUPLING 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 18, 19633,154,275 7 COMBENED CAMPER LIFT AND COUPLING Leopold FJSchatzl, 704 E.Granada Court, and Harry R.

' Riggs, 744 E. I St., both of Ontario. Calif. Filed July 18, 1963, Ser.No. 225,891

2 Claims. (Cl. 214-515) 1 scribed; the forward unit bein g the same.Previous to This invention relates to a combined camperlift and couplingtherefor, with provision for a convenient means of disconnecting thecamper body from the tractor frame,"

raising the same high enough to allow removal of the tractor and yetleaving the said camper body supported in a level condition.

' The primary object of the invention is to provide a con-' venientandeconomicalmeaus of parkinga camper body unit, disconnecting the samefrom the tractor portion and leaving the said camper body unit in alevel condition.

Another object'of the invention is the adaption of the supporting andleveling means thereof to the conventional type of travel trailer whereit is used to stabilize the same,

Whether it is hitched to a tractor or not. Another objectof theinvention isthe provision of a convenient means of quickly connecting ordisconnecting.

the camper body from the tractor frame.

A further object of the invention is the provision of an assembly whichwill result in either automatic or manual control of the several-liftunits.

Another feature of the invention resides in the fact that the means ofpowering the lift units or the camper body connecting members maybereadily adapted to various forms such as electric, hydraulic, pneumatic,or manually operated, to meet the manufacturing requirements ous models.I, y

' Furthermore it is pointed out that while four lift members' have beenillustrated in the drawings, the number of lift units may be varied tomeet differing load condi-v tions, as required.

Other objects and advantages of the invention will be found in thedescription, the "drawings, and in the claims;,

and for complete understanding of the invention, reference may be had tothe following detailed description and the accompanying drawings,wherein:

FIG; 1 is a side elevational view of a samper bo yand tractor of ourinvention in coupled condition, and with the lift units as they appearwhen lowered, but previous to lifting the said camper body;

2 is a fragmentary rear elevational view of PEG. 1, a portion thereofbeing'b'roken awayand vertically sectioned to's how certaindetails ofthe lift assembly and the coupling members;

I FIG. 3is a horizontal fragmentary section through the point justbelow,

rear portion of FIG. 2, and taken at a the camper body floor;

FIG. 4 is a somewhat enlarged transversevertical secright side of FIG.2; g V W FIG. 5 is a side--elevational view of'FIG. 4 and partly insection, the release positionof the. coupling hook. being shownill; d eI 2 4 FIG. 6 is a schematic layout of, the electric system used in theautomatic operation of the: lift units. A

- Referring first more particularly-to FIGS. 1-5 -inthe drawings, thenumerallO representsa tractor coupled to tional view of the solenoidconnecting unit shown on the a camper body l2, having a conventionaloverhanging portion 14; andenclosed rear walll6, side wall- 17, areentrant portion 15 anddownwardly extendable lift legs 22 and 28,

i arranged at the forward and rear ends 15 and 16 of the camper body.

of vari-i 91 which is positioned'in slot 90' at the outer end thereof,-

the lifting operation the two corresponding-solenoid fastener unitswhich are attached to the under'sideof the bottom 42 of the camper body,at each forward corner thereof,

are released. T he solenoid unit shown in detail by FIGS. I 4 and-5 isheld-securely in place by flangefei which depends from and is fastenedto the bottom 42 of the'camper body, the saidfiang'e67b'eing-reinforcedby webs 68 and 69. The angularfopening 71, 72 offlange 67 is fitted over pin -65-'wl1ich in turn is secured to the sideof the truck frame or chassis 39 which includes the usual cross braces41,-only'one-of which isshown in FIG. 2. A hook solenoid unit isactuatedby switch 129 asindicated in FIG. 6, which rotateslthe solenoidarm 8? 'to the dotted line-position illustrated by FIG. 5 at 89' bymoving pin and carrying'with it the hook 76, 7 8 to which it isattached.

' The power unit,- shown in detail by FIG. 3, controls 30 from the;underside 42 of the camper body between the lifting legs 22-24, andcomprisesa 24 volt DC. motor 32 with built-in reversible brake andhigh-low limit switch 34g, a gear unit 33, and a drurn 35. .The saiddrum.

is divided into sections 35-A and 35-B by an annular spacer flange 37; Apair of cables isreversely wound around the drum 35 v on either side ofspacerelement. 37-1" Cable is wound on the drum section 35-8 in ananticlockwise direction and'passingunder pulley 44, thence to theupperend of leg member 22 at which point itis secured to pin.61 shown indotted lines FIG. 2. Cable 54 from 'its pointof attachment on section35-B of the drum is wound therearound in a clockwise direction andpassing over pulley 45, thence to the lower end of leg 22 to which it issecured to pin 61, see FIG. 3.

'2 From its point of attachment on section 35-A of drum 35 cable 57 iswound onto drum section 35-A in an anticlockwise direction and passingunder pulley 46 thence toy the uppe'r'end of leg 24 at. which point itis secured to pin 1 61.jCable 58 being wound on drum section 35-A in a,

clockwise direction, passing over pulley 47, thence to the lower end ofleg' 24 to which it issecured to pin 61. It is noted that the relationof the cables in the latter arrangement is crossed over in order toattain the same tionship therewith by angle members 21-22 and 23A-23B,suitablysecured tothe sidewalls of each .Channel oneither side of theinwardly projecting tongue of the T angle leg. hus, each legwill'bereceived within and will'be adapted'to vertically move from itsvchannel. i

The lift pulleys 44, 45,46 and 47 are mounted on hearing flanges 51 and52 which are secured to the lower 3,154,275 Patented Alan. 5, 1965' 'cury is contactingtheswtich elements 158461.

. of both-125 and 126 inner edges of said channels 21 and 23 so that thepairs of pulleys will oppose eachother, as shown in FIGS.

2 and 3. I l

The lifting operation, therefore, proceeds by actuating I switch 129,and by means of the solenoids releasing the engaging hooks 76 from thepins 65. The power is then applied tothe motor unit 32, turning drums 35andby clockwise movement thereof putting tension on cables 55 and 57while cables 54 and 58 unwind in the opposite direction, therebyresulting in a lifting action of the camper body. I 1

While the rear unit has been shownand' described thus far, in thespecificatiomit is to be understood that the a forward unit correspondsthereto and operates in the same manner.

It is obviou that various changes in the arrangement 'andnumber of thelift units may be varied as needed to adapt the present invention to theparticular specifications and requirements market. I,

of camper models, presented to the The lift assembly described above isadapted to operation of the lift units separately or by simultaneousaction,

but is not designated to lift the camper body in such a manner as toremain level during the lifting operation.

An important feature of a, modified form of the above described liftmechanism of the invention automatically -maintains a level conditionduring the entire lift operaconnected to contacts 158,159, 160 and 161respectively of the mercury switch 156. The ground to the mercury switchis insulated from contact source by 157, so that the power is deliveredto the motor only when the mer- Although four lift unitshave been shown,it is obvious that the number of units may be increased withoutdepartingfrom the spirit of our invention.

The power supply indicated in FIG. 6 is illustrative only: and may befurnished by any of the conventional means employed in portable units.In the present case 24 volts are provided at 121 by using the twotwelvevolt batteries 101 and 102 in'series by closing switch 167-185 and114413. Switches 125 and 126 are closed and switch contacts 136-141and137-1 43 are closed for lifting operation andcontacts of 136442, as wella 137-144 results in .a-lowering operation. In the event only one end isto be operatedeither 125 or 126- may be closed, however the completelyautomatic lift operation requires closure It is noted that the normallyopen switch 1229 controls the bank of solenoid units. A 24 volt readyindicator designated is by 122. v

For convenience, in the present circuit layout, provision is made forcharging the batteries in parallel and the operation of the lightingsystem need not be interfrupted. i

At this point it should bestressed that the lift means of thisinvention, Whether automatic or not, may be adapted to the conventionaltype of trailer as above indicated. This is accomplished by raising thetrailer body until the weight jthereof is removedfrom the springs, andis especially useful in preventing swaying due to wind pressure exertedupon thesaid trailer.

It is obviousthatwhile we have shown and described specific embodimentsof our invention, we .wish itto be understood that modificationslmay bemade without departing from the spirit of our invention, and that weintend therefore to be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

We claim:

1. In combination, a vehicle comprising a chassis, a camper bodysupported rearwardly of said chassis and adapted to be detachabletherefrom, latching bolts on said trailer, pivotal latching hooksarranged at the forward end of said camper body, solenoid actuated meansfor pivoting said hooks into latching engagement with said bolts forlocking said body on said chassis, means to operate said solenoidactuated means, vertically disposed substantially rectangular channelmembers at each corner of said body, vertically disposed substantiallyrectangular ET-shaped lifting legs slidably arranged in said members,said legs having flat outer surfaces thereon flatly engageable with saidchannel members, and guide means in said members engageable with saidlifting legs for guiding said leg relative to said members, reversiblecable drums on the underside of said body, power means for rotating saiddrums, pulleys mounted on each of said channel members, cables connectedto each leg and its respective drum, the cables for each leg beingtrained over the respective pulleys and connected to the upper and lowerend of the respective legs, said cables being Wound in oppositedirections on the respective drums, means for controlling said powermeans, and said drum, whereby said camper body may be vertically raisedrelative thereto whereupon the vehicle is driven away from theself-supported body.

2. In combination, a vehicle comprising a chassis, a camper bodysupported rearwardly of said chassis and adapted to be detachabletherefrom, latching bolts on said trailer, pivotal latching hookarranged at the forward end of said camper body, solenoid actuated meansfor pivoting said hooks into latching engagement with said bolts forlocking said body on said chassis, means to operate said solenoidactuated means, vertically disposed substantially rectangular channelmembers at each corner of said body, substantially T-shaped lifting legsslidably arranged in said members, said legs having iiat outer surfacesthereon flatly engageable with said channel mern bers, reversible cabledrums on the underside of said.

body, one for each leg, power means for rotating said drums, pulleysmounted on each of said channel members, cables connected to each legand it respective drum, the cables for each leg being trained over therespective pul leys and connected to the upper and lower ends of therespective legs, said cables being wound in opposite directions on therespective drums, a leveling mercury switch mounted on the bottom ofsaid body, said switch controlling said power means, and said drums,whereby said camper body may be vertically raised relative thereto, andsimultaneously maintained in a level position whereupon the vehicle isdriven away from the self-supported body.

References Cited by the Examiner UNITED STATES PATENTS 1,303,854 5/19Clark 214-515 2,084,941 6/37 Capella 254-426 2,359,961 10/44 Anthony 2143s.22 X 2,916,319 12/59 Du Bois 296-76 2,948,561 8/60 ,Eatinger -822 X2,985,482 5/61 'iion 214 515 5,002,760 10/61 Lee 214-515X 3,069,141,12/62 Broussard 254-1 HUGO O. SCHULZ, Primary Examinen GERALD M.FORLENZA, Examiner.

1. IN COMBINATION, A VEHICLE COMPRISING A CHASSIS, A CAMPER BODYSUPPORTED REARWARDLY OF SAID CHASSIS AND ADAPTED TO BE DETACHABLETHEREFROM, LATCHING BOLTS ON SAID TRAILER, PIVOTAL LATCHING HOOKSARRANGED AT THE FORWARD END OF SAID CAMPER BODY, SOLENOID ACTUATED MEANSFOR PIVOTING SAID HOOKS INTO LATCHING ENGAGEMENT WITH SAID BOLTS FORLOCKING SAID BODY ON SAID CHASSIS, MEANS TO OPERATE SAID SOLENOIDACTUATED MEANS, VERTICALLY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLY ECTANGULAR CHANNELMEMBERS AT EACH CORNER OF SAID BODY, VERTICALLY DISPOSED SUBSTANTIALLYRECTANGULAR T-SHAPED LIFTING LEGS SLIDABLY ARRANGED IN SAID MEMBERS,SAID LEGS HAVING FLAT OUTER SURFACES THEREON FLATLY ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDCHANNEL MEMBERS, AND GUIDE MEANS IN SAID MEMBERS ENGAGEABLE WITH SAIDLIFTING LEGS FOR GUIDING SAID LEGS RELATIVE TO SAID MEMBERS, REVERSIBLECABLE DRUMS ON